Most orchids can be grown successfully in normal household temperatures, but it is worth checking out what is optimum for your orchid by looking up your genera in the American Orchid Society's Culture Sheets. The absolute minimum temperature for almost all species of orchid is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is believed by many experienced orchid growers that a drop in temperature of around 10 degrees Fahrenheit at night-time is essential for your orchid to bloom. Although this seems to be the general consensus, I have known of many orchids that have produced beautiful flowers in climate-controlled environments and am aware of no scientific study that proves (or disproves) this. In contrast, I have seen wonderful blooms on orchids that have been subject to the natural fall in temperature at night, so my own opinion is that is not all that important - your orchid will adapt to it's surroundings.
Because most orchids are placed on window sills, it is important to make sure it's foliage (or any other part of the plant, for that matter) is not touching the window pane during the winter months. This will cause your orchid to freeze and eventually die.
Exposing your orchid to direct sunlight in the Summer months can cause it to get sun-burnt. This is indicated by dark blemishes on the foliage and is, for all intents and purposes, irreparable. Your orchid does need lots of light, but you will need to ensure it is shaded appropriately.
I think I've covered everything temperature-related here today. Tomorrow, I will be discussing how to get the best humidity levels for your orchid.
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